2023-07-26-accounts - Sierra Foundation For Life Skills (Sffls)

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 27/07/22 Period start date To Period end date

26/07/23

Charity name: Sierra Foundation for Life Skills

Charity registration number: 1157293

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	Advancement of education and training in Sierra Leone, particularly females facing social exclusion and economic disadvantage. Relief of poverty in Sierra Leone. Advancement of the Christian faith in Sierra Leone.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	1. SFFLS has paid salaries for tutors and support staff at the Vocational Centre for young women. 2. The latest student cohort has graduated and more students have been recruited for catering training and tailoring at the Vocational Centre. 3. Rice has been supplied to widows and other families facing hunger and destitution on a regular basis. 4. The sinking of a well in rural Sierra Leone (Mile 91) has been completed. 5. The building of 2 homes for war widows and their families has been completed and are now occupied. 6. Funds for the building of a palava hut to enhance the work of the vocational centre have been used to start the structure. 7. Funds have been raised to underpin a classroom block in a school which was too dangerous to be used.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	Due note has been taken on issues regarding public benefit by the charity.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference

Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	SFFLS works in partnership with Family Homes Movement in Freetown. It is through this charity that projects are established and completed. ⚫ A new cohort of young women have enrolled on catering and tailoring courses which will enable them to gain employment in local hospitality venues and as self employed tailors. The previous cohort have graduated successfully. ⚫ Homes being built for war widows and their families have been completed and are occupied. This has supported extended families who were previously homeless. ⚫ Bags of rice have been funded every month for the hungry and destitute as distributed by Family Homes Movement. ⚫ Funds have been raised to underpin a classroom block in Deep Eye School which was too dangerous to be used. Once completed it will enable safe gatherings to take place in the wider community. ⚫ A well in a rural setting has been started with the initial depth dug by hand, and awaiting the weather conditions to be completed. This has now been completed and is supplying safe water for the local village (Mile 91 outside of Freetown).

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	All objectives are either in progress or completed as set out by the trustees. Two trustees had a 3 week visit to Sierra Leone in January 2023 to support the work of Family Homes Movement and see progress made on projects funded by SFFLS.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	Fundraising has successfully supported all projects that have been agreed with Family Homes Movement.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	Not applicable.
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The charity is in credit with financial assets as seen in attached accounts, with all commitments having been met.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Reserves of £500 are maintained in the SFFLS account.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£500.00
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	None
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Individual donations from supporters, largely through regular giving and gift aid where applicable. Fund raising events include summer garden parties in July 2022 and 2023. Occasional events were organised for supporters which raised funds for the charity.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	None.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The trustees operate a low risk position regarding the use of funds for distribution.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charitable Incorporated organisation
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Appointed by existing trustees.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and Para 1.51 training of trustees Family Homes Movement in Freetown is our local partner in Sierra Leone. The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Sierra Foundation for Life Skills
Other name the charity uses	SFFLS
Registered charity number	1157293
Charity’s principal address	37, Fairview Drive, Bayston Hill Shrewsbury SY3 0LD

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
VerityLowe	Chair
Sarah Wolton	Secretary
Sandra Lloyd	Treasurer
Steven Butterworth	Trustee
Rev Clive Devonish	Trustee	6thOctober 2021

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets None held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date	Verity Lowe
	Verity Janet Lowe
	Chair
	29.03.23
	29.03.23

SIERRA FOUNDATION FOR LIFE SKILLS RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD 27/7/2022 - 26/7/2023

RECEIPTS	2023	2023	2022	2022
	Restricted	Unrestricted	Restricted	Unrestricted
DONATIONS		12761.00		10068.73
DONATION TOWARDS	FLIGHTS	1000.00		0
FUNDRAISING		2925.40		3148.12
GIFT AID		1329.11		2305.72
PCC		275.73
OTHER				409.39
TOTAL RECEIPTS		18291.24		15931.96
PAYMENTS
FUNDRAISING COSTS		0		186.34
SIERRA LEONE PROJECT COSTS		19637.99		12745.00
INSURANCE		538.16		530.92
PRINTING & POSTAGE		49.49		110.67
FLIGHTS & TRAVEL COSTS		3569.73		0
ACCOUNTANTS FEES		300.00		300.00
WEBSITE / I.T		497.99		506.99
BANK CHARGES & FEES		83.00		70.00
OTHER		50.00		0
TOTAL PAYMENTS		24726.36		14449.92
NET INCOMING/ (OUTGOING)		(6435.12)		1482.04
RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR

SIERRA FOUNDATION FOR LIFE SKILLS

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FOR THE PERIOD 27/7/2022 - 26/7/2023

	2023	2022
CASH FUNDS
BANK CURRENT ACCOUNT	2608.86	9043.98
TOTAL CASH FUNDS	2608.86	9043.98
FUNDS
OPENING BALANCE	9043.98	7561.94
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR	(6435.12)	1482.04
TOTAL FUNDS CLOSING BALANCE	2608.86	9043.98

I have audited the books and financial statements of the Sierra Foundation for Life Skills for the 12 month period ended 26/7/2023. In my view the above accounts are a true and fair record of the Foundations financial affairs during that period.

Signed R. Harper, Auditor

Date 7th March 2024